New Perspectives Classic Labs

BUYING A COMPUTER

When buying from a mail-order or Internet computer vendor, consumers don't have an opportunity to take various computer models for a "test drive." They make a computer purchase decision based solely on a list of specifications. Thus, it is essential to understand the specifications in computer ads. In this Lab, you will find out how to use a Shopping Glossary to interpret the specifications.  

1.  Click the Steps button to learn how to use the Shopping Glossary. As you proceed through the Steps, answer all of the Quick Check questions that appear. After you complete the Steps, you will see a Quick Check Summary Report. Follow the instructions on the screen to print this report.  

2.  Click the Explore button and read the ad for the VectorMicro Computer system. Use the Shopping Glossary to define the following terms:

a. Write-back cache

b. EIDE

c. NI

d. Burst cache

e. Wavetable

 f. EDO RAM

3.  In Explore, read the ads for the ZeePlus Multimedia Value Pak and the ZeePlus Multimedia Pro computers. The two systems differ substantially in price. If you purchase the more expensive system, what additional features do you get?

4.  In Explore, read the ad for the ZeePlus Multimedia Pro Computer (233 MHz and the NP2 Super Systems Computer. What is the price difference between these two systems? What factors might account for this price difference?

5.  In Explore, read the ads to find a notebook computer that's priced within $100 of the Nevada Tech Systems desktop computer. Make a list of the features the desktop computer has, that the notebook computer does not have. Which one would you buy? Why?

6.  Photocopy a computer ad from a recent issue of a computer magazine. On a separate sheet of paper, write each specification (for example, Intel Pentium processor). For each specification, define each term (for example, Intel is a microprocessor manufacturer, Pentium is a type of microprocessor in the x86 family). Write out all acronyms (for example, RAM means random access memory). If you have difficulty with some of the terms and acronyms, click the Explore button and use the Shopping Glossary.